Ghana J. Sci. 47 (2007), 101-106

THE WILDLIFE TRADE IN : A THREAT TO CONSERVATION

S. ODONKOR, F. GBOGBO, D. ATTUQUAYEFIO* AND L. BIMI (S.O., D.A. & L.B.: Department of Zoology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 67, Legon-Accra; F. G.: Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana) * Corresponding author

Abstract Résumé The rich is currently under ODONKOR, S., GBOGBO, F., ATTUQUAYEFIO, D. & BIMI, L.: Le threat from anthropogenic influences, including local commerce d’animaux sauvages au Ghana: Une and international trade in wildlife. Thes study menace à la conservation de biodiversité. La investigated the effect of this trade on biodiversity biodiversité riche du Ghana est actuellement menacé conservation initiatives in Ghana. The study involved de l’influence d’anthropogénie y compris le commerce the use of interviews and structured questionnaires local et international d’animaux sauvages. Cette étude administered in four towns in the Eastern and enquêtait l’effet de ce commerce sur les initiatives de Greater-Accra . The results indicated la conservation de biodiversité au Ghana. La that the level of awareness of wildlife laws was high methodologie entraînait les interviews et les ques- among the exclusively male dealers in the trade. tionnaires structurés appliqués en quatre villes dans Trapping was the most widely used hunting method, les régions de Eastern et de Greater-Accra du Ghana. and involved some brutality to the captured animals Les résultats indiquent que le niveau de sensibilisation before they were finally killed. Export permit fees de lois d’animaux sauvages était élevé parmi les charged by the Wildlife Division were found to be négociants exclusivement mâles du commerce. La very low and, based on uncertain international market prise au piège était la méthode de chasse la plus prices, pose potential threats to the national généralement employée, mais ceci entrainait beaucoup economy and wildlife heritage. It is recommended de violence pour les animaux capturés avant d’être that a policy framework should be developed to finalement tués. Le droit de permis d’exportation regulate the production and use of killer traps in facturé par le département de la faune et la flore est hunting of wildlife. Export permit fees and penalties considéré d’être trop bas et basé sur les prix incertains for non-adherence to wildlife laws also need to be du marché international, posant une menace increased to high levels to serve as a deterrent to the potentielle à l’économie nationale et à l’héritage de over-harvesting and exportation of wildlife. la faune et la flore. Il est recommandé qu’un cadre de principe soit développé pour régler la construction et l’utilisation des pièges tueuses pour la chasse d’animaux sauvages. Les droits de permis d’exportation et les pénalités pour la non-adhésion aux lois d’animaux sauvage exigent également d’être augmentés aux niveaux élevés pour avoir un effet dissuasif à la chasse excessive et l’exportation d’animaux sauvage.

Introduction over-harvesting, with potential threats to local and As a critically important resource, wildlife meets global biodiversity. Ghana’s is the food and other livelihood requirements of considered as one of the world’s priority human communities worldwide. Bushmeat (the biodiversity conservation areas because of its rich meat of wild animals) is an important source of faunal diversity and high degree of species protein especially for rural communities (CI-Ghana, 1999). This rich biodiversity throughout (Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1997). is currently under threat from both natural and Increasing human population has resulted in anthropogenic influences, with some species of severe pressure on wildlife populations due to , birds and currently under threat 102 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOL. 47

(WCU, 1996). Metropolitan Area during February and March Over the years, increasing numbers of people 2006. These communities are noted for their heavy have become involved in the wildlife trade in involvement in the wildlife trade, and the display Ghana as hunters, traders and exporters, and a of both live animals and carcasses along the number of Ghanaian faunal species face extinction highways passing through these areas is a as a result (Kassim, 2002). While this trade could common sight. In each community, traders and contribute substantially to household incomes in hunters of wild animals plying their trade along both rural and urban communities, as well as the the highways, were interviewed. This involved national economy (Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1997), wildlife reading out questions from a structured is a limited resource that needs to be used questionnaire, and translating them in a local sustainably to avoid local extinctions (CI–Ghana, Ghanaian language with the help of local 2002). Wildlife populations in parts of Africa are interpreters where necessary. The questionnaire dwindling as a result of over-exploitation and was designed to investigate the general profile of habitat destruction caused by increasing human the hunters and traders involved in the trade, populations and the associated demands for patronage of their wares, the hunting methods agricultural land (Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1997), as used, and their own internal regulatory happened to Miss Waldron’s red colobus mechanisms for hunting and trade. In all, 31 (Piliocolobus badius waldroni) which has been respondents answered the questionaires. declared locally extinct in Ghana (http:// Secondary data on wildlife exports were obtained nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2004/5/ from the Wildlife Division (Forestry Commission). colobus.cfm). The bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), which is the ceremonial animal of the Results and discussions ‘Aboakyir’ Festival of the Effutu people in the All 31 respondents from the four locations were Central Region of Ghana, has been hunted to local males, reflecting the fact that trading and hunting rarity and possible extinction, posing a threat to of wildlife are male-dominated occupation. All the this socio-culturally and economically- important respondents claimed to undertake hunting and festival (EPA, 2005; Wuver and Attuquayefio, trading on part-time basis, practising alternative 2006). jobs as carpenters, mechanics, farmers and drivers. The study investigated the effects of the Ntiamoa-Baidu (1997) noted that there are very wildlife trade on biodiversity conservation in few people in Africa whose occupation is solely Ghana, specifically (i) its economic and socio- hunting. Most hunters worked full-time in other cultural impacts, (ii) methods involved in the jobs like farming and artisanship, and only hunted capture of the wild animals, (iii) market values of on part-time basis. Asibey (1996) also reported species involved, and (iv) factors motivating the that many farmers indulged in the bushmeat trade export of wild animals in Ghana. It is hoped that on part-time basis. the study will provide useful background Majority of the traders (77%) were between 16 information for the development of conservation and 30 years old, while 56 per cent of the hunters and management plans for wild animals in Ghana. were aged 40 years and above. Day-hunting was practised by 67 per cent of hunters, 56 per cent of Experimental whom used traps, and 33 per cent used guns and The study was undertaken in selected towns in cutlasses. The remaining 11 per cent undertook the Eastern and Greater Accra regions of Ghana, group-hunting which involved chasing and notably Kibi, Ankaase and Anyinam in the East running down the animals. The traps used were Akim District, and Achimota in the Accra mainly metal killer traps which exposed the animals VOL. 47 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 103 to severe cruelty, as evidenced by the sight of Atewa Range Reserve (ARFR) as their captured animals with ruptured eyeballs, fractured major source of supply of the wild animals. Since limbs and blood dripping from parts of their the ARFR is a globally significant biodiversity bodies. area, this situation does not augur well for About 56 per cent of captured animals ended biodiversity conservation in Ghana and the world up in the hands of traders, while the remaining 44 at large. per cent went to chop bar (local restaurant) Table 1 shows the price levels of the various operators. About 78 per cent of the hunters stated live animals and carcasses displayed along the that they recorded more catches during the dry highways during the study period. The highest season than during the wet season, with duikers patronage was from highway travellers, mostly (Cephalophis sp.) and grasscutters (Thryonomys foreigners, who usually purchased live animals swinderianus) being the most expensive because with the intention of exporting them when leaving of the very high demand for their meat. Seventy- the country. This required them to obtain permits seven per cent of the hunters reported drastic and relevant receipts from the Wildlife Division decreases in animal capture rates in recent times, as required by law. The number of permits issued with 57 per cent attributing this mainly to could, therefore, represent the number of live deforestation by illegal logging. Shifting the blame animals exported at a particular time. The data for decreased capture rates to illegal logging are, however, underestimates, since they cover suggests that the hunters were not aware of the only those animals exported legally. Demand for threats their own actions pose to biodiversity wild animals comes from the pet industry, conservation efforts. Even though the majority zoological gardens and biomedical research (67%) of the hunters knew of the legal programmes (Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1997). requirements for hunting, only 35 per cent of them Table 2 shows the number of permits issued had hunting licenses, suggesting that education for live wild exported to various destination may not be the problem but rather tax law between 2004 and 2005, while Fig. 1 shows enforcement and inadequate preventive measures. percentages of export permits issued for different About 76 per cent of the wildlife traders found faunal categories in 2005 from Wildlife Division the business lucrative, and the same percentage records. The records also indicated that all species were aware of the laws governing the sale of traded locally were also exported. Generally, live wildlife in Ghana. However, only 52 per cent of animals were priced higher than carcasses, them believed that the business was sustainable. because of higher handling costs (Table 1), but Also, 48 per cent knew exactly what the laws were, some carcasses were also priced higher because and the fact that the hunting of wildlife in Ghana of higher processing costs. The least number of requires a license issued by the Wildlife Division permits were issued for live mammals and birds, of the Forestry Commission. Not surprisingly, which was attributed to the recent outbreaks of therefore, only 24 per cent of the traders had monkey pox, mad cow disease and bird flu. trading licenses, suggesting also that the existing Reptiles and insects had the highest international wildlife laws are not being rigidly enforced. There demand. Ntiamoa-Baidu (1997) reported that appeared to be no arrests or reprimands for reptiles formed the bulk of the wildlife export trade breaching the law on open and close seasons for between 1989 and 1994. hunting, as all kinds of live animals or carcasses Generally, live wild animal exports generated were on display along the highways of Ghana all- significant amounts of revenue to the exporters, year-round. At Kibi, Ankaase and Anyinam in and the business is considered quite lucrative the Eastern Region, the hunters mentioned the (Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1997). Most of the profits go to 104 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOL. 47

TABLE 1 Prices of faunal species displayed along highways during the study

Species Price (¢) Conservation significance

Common name Live Carcass IUCN CITES National

Manis [Phataginus] tricuspis Pangolin 150,000 250,000 I Atherurus africanus Brush-tailed porcupine 100,000 150,000 I I Neotragus pygmaeus Royal antelope 500,000 250,000 LR/nt I I Cephalophus maxwelli Maxwell’s duiker 300,000 250,000 LR/nt I I Cercopithecus aethuops Green monkey 250,000 100,000 I I I I Erythrocebus patas Patas monkey 500,000 - I I Thryonomys swinderianus Grasscutter 250,000* 300,000 Kynixys erosa Hinged tortoise 100,000 - D D I I I I Francolinus ahantensis Ahanta francolin - 30,000 Poicephalus gulielmi Senegal green 300,000 - I I Psittacus erithacus African grey parrot 500,000 - I I Achatina achatina Giant land snail 25 for 45,000

Legend

Conservation Significance • Global criteria IUCN = International Union for the Conservation of Nature CITES = Convention on International Trade in of Wild and Fauna. • National Criteria (Ghana Wildlife Conservation Regulations) Ghana’s Wildlife Laws (Ghana Wildlife Conservation Regulations, 1971, and Ghana Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Regulations, 1988; 1995).

TABLE 2 Permits issued in Ghana for the export of live wild fauna

2004 2005

Continent Number of permits Percentage Number of permits Percentage

Europe 880 49 915 48.4 North America 718 40 720 38.1 Asia 156 9 228 12. 1 Africa 32 2 27 1.4 Total 1786 100 1890 100 middlemen and international sales agents, rather international market prices of the animals, on than to the hunters. The low levels of capture and which the export permit fees are based. For export permit fees charged by the Wildlife Division example, patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) suggest that wildlife exporters under-declare attract capture and export permit fees of GH¢1.00 VOL. 47 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 105

Others, 1% , 6% Arachnids, 11%

Birds, 13%

Reptiles, Insects, 3% 65% Mammals, 1%

Fig 1. Export permit issued in Ghana to different categories for animals in 2005

(US$ 1.1) and GH¢0.50 (US$ 0.6), respectively, regulated, along the lines of national guidelines according to Wildlife Division records. The to curb the proliferation of firearms in the country, animals, however, reportedly cost US$ 50 on the (2) current capture and export permit fees need to international market, while on the local market they be revised upwards to reflect current market trends cost GH¢50.00 (US$ 55.6) (Table 1). to increase the country’s foreign exchange earnings; ideally, export permit fees should be high Conclusion and recommendations enough to serve as a deterrent to undue over- The trading and hunting of wild animals in the exploitation of wildlife, (3) education and selected communities are male-dominated awareness campaigns on strict adherence to open activities, with majority of the traders and hunters and closed hunting seasons, as well as general operating illegally and with impunity. The level of observance of national wildlife regulation, should awareness of the Ghana’s wildlife laws among be instituted various stakeholders appeared to be high, but there is the need for intensive supervision and Acknowledgement monitoring as well as enforcement of theses laws. The authors acknowledge the support of Dr E. H. Trapping, as the most widely used hunting Owusu and the Ghana Wildlife Society for the technique, was found to impose brutalities on the study. Special thanks go to the people of Kibi, captured animals. The wildlife export trade poses Ankaase, Anyinam and Achimota, for their co- serious threats to the Ghanaian economy and operation during the study. national wildlife heritage because of low export permit fees. It is recommended that (1) the References manufacture and use of killer traps should be CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL-GHANA (CI-G) (2002) 106 GHANA JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOL. 47

Assessment of bush meat trade during the annual NTIAMOA-BAIDU, Y. (1997) Wildlife and Food Security closed seasons on hunting in Ghana. FAO Report. in Africa. FAO Conservation Guide 33. FAO, Rome. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) (2005) State WORLD CONSERVATION UNION (WCU) (1996) Red List of of the Environment Report 2004. Threatened Animals. IUCN, Switzerland. KASIM, K. A. (2002) Conservation and the bushmeat WUVER, A.M. & ATTUQUAYEFIO, D. K. (2006) The trade in Ghana: Problems and prospects for impact of human activities on biodiversity sustainable wildlife management. (MSc conservation in a coastal wetland in Ghana. W. Afr. Dissertation.) University of Greenwich, UK. J. appl. Ecol. 9: 115-129.

Received 10 Oct 06; revised 31 Jan 07.